When you first listen to Tom Misch’s music, it isn’t just his calming vocals, his production skills, nor his chops on the guitar that immediately catch your ear. It is the feel of his music that transcends any one element. Misch has solidified himself as a premiere young artist because of his unique fusion all of these elements into soulful, refreshing tracks.
Born and bred in London, the 23-year-old artist has been a lifelong student of music. Beginning with violin and vocal lessons at a young age, Misch went on to study music technology at Langley Park School for Boys and spent a short time learning jazz guitar at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. Ultimately, however, he found himself so enveloped in his own projects that he dropped out. Misch’s compositions put on display those skills he acquired through his formal training in addition to his instinctive musical abilities, resulting in a smooth amalgamation of jazz, hip-hop, and disco.
”Try Again,” one of his first tracks released on Soundcloud in 2013, is dripping with hip-hop influence. A self-proclaimed disciple of J Dilla, Misch’s beats are also inspired by the likes of KAYTRANADA, D’Angelo, and A Tribe Called Quest. Many of his earliest songs like “Got It Going” and “Dream” showcase his remarkable ear for sampling hip-hop and R&B. Interestingly, it wasn’t until after his work was highlighted on SOULECTION in 2014 that we even got to hear Misch’s vocals. His first EP as a lead vocalist, Out to Sea, saw the young crooner begin to resemble the singer-songwriter that we know today. Collaborations with other rising stars in London such as Loyle Carner and Carmody, coupled with the release of Beat Tape 2, saw Misch continuing to add singing to his bread and butter of production and beatmaking.
With the release of his debut studio album, Geography, listeners were introduced to one of the most robust projects of 2018. The album includes big-time features from Goldlink and De La Soul, proving Misch can stay true to the hip-hop inspirations that helped garner his fan base. Halfway through the record, however, we are treated with an instrumental, jazz arrangement of Stevie Wonder’s “Isn’t She Lovely” that will have audiophiles and instrumentalists alike mesmerized by Misch’s musical versatility. “Movie,” the LP’s fourth track, is a highlight of the album. Released as a single in November of 2017, the song is a sentimental piece bursting with nostalgia and honest songwriting all wrapped up in a composition just as moving as the lyrics. Misch’s songwriting can be seen as understated in comparison to his production or guitar skills, but tracks like “Movie” and “You’re On My Mind” finally put his compositional skills front and center.
Geography is full of songs that will keep you coming back for more. One listen is frankly just not enough to catch all of the musical tricks the artist has up his sleeve. Having performed at Coachella and been featured on NPR’s Tiny Desk series, there is no doubt that Misch is just as good live as he is in the studio. If Geography is any indication of his trajectory, then it is only a matter of time before Misch takes the world by storm.
Tom Misch will perform on Sun., Oct. 28 at the Buckhead Theatre. Doors open at 7 p.m. Admission is $27.50. All ages.
More Info
Web: tommisch.com
Facebook: @tommisch123
Instagram: @tommisch
SoundCloud: @tommisch
Twitter: @tommisch